On Rationalities of Terrorism from an Eastern Perspective

Abstract

This paper will investigate to what extent dominant conceptions of rationality can contribute to the understanding of extreme violent human behavior like terrorism. Second, it will explore rationalities outside of the Western tradition. Finally the paper explores the application of these ideas to understanding terrorism in the context of Nepal. It will demonstrates that rationalities are culturally relativistic. As the cultures are often in a process of development, so are the rationalities. From this point of view, understanding terrorist rationalities demands a contextual analysis of the complex cultural components and their constant change and development.